Fall 2017 Edition

Features

When Two Generations of Men’s Groups MeetTom Weiner
For three decades, Tom Weiner has been part of a western Massachusetts men’s group (that’s been meeting for even longer). He is currently writing a book about men’s and women’s support groups, emphasizing the purposes they serve for their members and their role in society.

Gender, War, and Male “Disadvantage”By Michael Flood and David Duriesmith
Men’s rights advocates (MRAs) complain that war is an important example of male disadvantage. They describe the higher rates of sex-selective conscription and the large numbers of deaths and injuries among male soldiers as a powerful example of how men are disadvantaged relative to women. This claim is flawed.

The Poison of White Male Supremacist MasculinityRob Okun
Like our slaveholding first president—not our current one—I cannot tell a lie: we must chop down the poisonous tree of white supremacist masculinity. I felt tears well up when I heard about the alt-right violence unleashed in Charlottesville on August 12. Some of my tears, though, were in frustration. How is it possible after all the years colleagues and I have been writing and speaking about the gender of the killers—from Columbine to Orlando—that coverage of murder suspect James Fields. Jr. failed to point out the obvious: he was a disaffected, alienated 20-year-old male.

The African National Congress Is Not Profeminist?Simnikiwe Hlatshaneni
How is it possible that the African National Congress (ANC) still thinks the battles for women’s rights and feminism are somehow different? Separating women’s rights from feminism is the reason the ANC claims to be a “nonracist, nonsexist” organization, but patriarchy is rife in the party, according to a gender rights expert.

Ten Must-Read Books About White Masculinity and the Rise of TrumpBy Jackson Katz
With the first anniversary of Donald Trump’s improbable election at hand, a torrent of books are being published that purport to analyze Trump’s political success and what it signifies and portends for the present and future of American politics. Many of these books appropriately address the “blue-collar billionaire’s” appeal to the ethnic bigotry and white nationalism that has long hidden in the shadows of American politics. But to date, precious few have correctly identified the central role played by gender—specifically white masculinity—in Trump’s rise as a political icon.

Columns

From the EditorWhite Men’s Uncharted New World
After an op-ed I wrote following the violent Charlottesville white supremacist march was published, I received an email from a man who described himself as a “white heterosexual and male conservative with strong Christian beliefs,” who added, “I live in a world…that is forcing me out.” Struck by his candor, I have engaged in a wide-ranging, respectful email dialogue with Dan, a small business owner from South Dakota, edited excerpts of which begin below.

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Fall 2018

#MeToo Means Asking the Hard QuestionsRob OkunIt’s clear that profeminist men—indeed, all men—must not stay silent in the wake of #MeToo. But where should our voices be heard? What should we say? And, even if we know, are we ready to speak?

Will Toxic Masculinity Lead to Men’s Liberation?Michael FloodThe term “toxic masculinity” is likely to be part of popular and media discussions of men and gender for a while to come. To that end, let’s make sure that it is used in ways that advance understanding and contribute to progress toward gender justice.